Pushing Up the Sky
By: Joseph Bruchac
What are we doing today?
Talk about how people explain things
in nature
Explore author’s purpose
Practice summarizing
Question of the Week:
Don’t Answer it Yet
How do people explain
nature in order to
understand it?
This question sets the purpose for our
read aloud today.
Listen as I read Greek Mythology
by Mary Pope Osborne
Remember, listen for an answer to
our question of the week and also for
the author’s purpose for writing this
article.
Why do you think the author wrote
this article? (Author’s Purpose)
(Turn and Talk)
As a Group:
Let’s identify one comparison (way
they are the same) and one contrast
(way they are different) the author
makes between civilization today and
ancient Greek civilization.
Let me give you some hints…
Compare and Contrast
Alike
and
Different
Greek Civilization
Civilization Today
Question of the Week:
How do people explain nature
in order to understand it?
(Think-Pair-Share)
What kind of writing do you do most
often?
Let’s list them:
When we talk about why we or
someone else writes something, we
are talking about author’s purpose.
Let’s Explore Author’s Purpose
The author’s purpose is the reason an
author writes something.
An Author Writes for Four Reasons
To persuade (talk you into something)
To inform (teach you something)
To entertain
To express ideas and feelings
One piece of writing can have
different purposes…
Example:
Beginning- inform
Middle-persuade
End-entertain
Lucky for Us We Have a Strategy to
Help
SUMMARIZE
Summing up the main ideas
and details as you read can
help you figure out the
author’s purpose.
Let’s Practice Recognizing Author’s
Purpose
Listen to me read
An Up and Down Story
In Olympia, Washington, you will find a tall
pole. However, this pole is not just any pole. It is
a story pole.
I can summarize that paragraph by saying
that it tells me about a story pole and
where it can be found.
I think the author’s purpose is to entertain
and to inform.
Let’s Read Together:
A story pole is different from a totem pole.
A totem pole tells about a family. A story
pole uses animal stories to teach children
about their culture and responsibility. The
story pole in Olympia has 21 carved figures
on it. Each teaches a lesson about life.
In summary, this paragraph describes what
a story pole is, and it also compares and
contrasts story poles and totem poles.
What do you think is the author’s purpose?
(Turn and Talk)
Whisper Read:
The story pole was made by
Snohomish Chief William Shelton.
It was carved from a great cedar
tree. Chief Shelton worked on the
pole for five years. When he died
in 1938, other people in his tribe
finished the carving.
Turn and tell your partner a summary
of this paragraph.
Think Time: What is the author’s
purpose?
Group Response:
Choral Read:
In 1940 the pole was done, but there was no
money to put it up. Children from around the state
each gave one cent. Together, they raised enough
money.
If you are ever in Olympia, be sure to visit the
story pole. You will learn about the Snohomish
culture. And you will see a beautiful work of art.
Author’s Purpose: I believe at the end of the story
the author has moved to persuading you to visit
the story pole. Are you persuaded?
What Do You Know About Native
Americans?
(Think Pair Share)
What Do You Want to Know about
Native Americans?
(Write one thing on a post-it)
Vocabulary
Antlers- bony growths on the head of
male deer, elk or moose
Imagined- pictured in your mind
Languages- spoken or written speech
Narrator- the person who tells a story
Overhead- over the head / high
Poked- pushed with force
THE END